College Football Bowl Trends, Edge Plays, Odds

Bruce Marshall Sports Betting Expert

2 minute read

Betting expert and handicapper Bruce Marshall breaks down the top trends for the entire College Football Bowl Season slate.

Check them out below and be sure to visit our NCAAFB picks page for expert selections on games this week!

Monday, Jan. 2

Reliaquest Bowl Trends

Miss State vs. Illinois (ESPN2, 12:00 p.m. ET)

• Of course the (Mike) Leach factor here.
• Zach Arnett promoted for Bulldogs.
• MSU 1-3 vs. line last four years in bowls, Illini hasn’t bowled since 2019 Redbox vs Cal, no bowl wins since 2011 vs. UCLA.
• Brett Bielema was 2-1 SU and vs. line in bowls with Arkansas, 3-3 vs. spread in bowls with Wiscy.
• Illinois 13-6-1 vs. spread since early 2021, no covers last three years in bowls/
• Also “under” 15-7-1 since Bielema arrived last year.

Tech Play: Illinois & Under
Expert Picks

Cotton Bowl Trends

Tulane vs. USC (ESPN, 1:00 p.m. ET)

• Wave last bowled in 2020, lost Potato vs. Nevada, but Willie Fritz did win and cover bowls in 2018 & ‘19.
• USC no bowls since 2019 Holiday (lost to Iowa), Trojans no covers last five bowls.
• Lincoln Riley 2-3 SU and vs. spread in bowls with Sooners.
• Wave 11-2 vs. spread this season, 15-3 last 18 vs. line since late 2021.
• Tulane 5-0 vs. line away from home this season, and has covered last three as dog.
• Wave “over” last four in 2022.
• Trojans “over” 10-3 this season, 16-6 "over" since early 2021.

Tech Play: Tulane & Over
Expert Picks

Citrus Bowl Trends

LSU vs. Purdue (ABC, 1:00 p.m. ET)

• Note Jeff Brohm move to ‘Ville, Brian Brohm will be interim HC for Boilermakers in bowl.
• Purdue won and covered Music City vs. Vols last year.
• Brian Kelly just 3-6 vs. spread his last nine bowls with Notre Dame.
• LSU Tigers were depleted and lost big in Texas Bowl last year.
• Boilermakers 4-3 vs. line away this season but only 5-8 overall vs. spread, 3-3 as dog.
• LSU lost last two outright this season and just 1-3 last four vs. spread.
• Tigers also 1-5 vs. line away from Baton Rouge in 2022.
• LSU “over” 6-1 to close season.
• Purdue 10-5 “over” since late 2021.

Tech Play: Purdue & Over
Expert Picks

Rose Bowl Trends

Penn State vs. Utah (ESPN, 5:00 p.m. ET)

• James Franklin lost Outback Bowl LY, 3-3 vs. spread last six bowls with Nittany Lions.
• Kyle Whittingham 10-4 SU, 9-5 vs. spread in bowls with Utes, though has lost last two outright (covered vs. OSU in Rose LY).
• Penn State 5-0-1 vs. spread down stretch in 2022, 8-3 vs. line this season.
• PSU “over” 8-4 in 2022.
• Utes 15-8 vs. line since early 2021, also on 14-9 “over” run.

Tech Play: Utah & Over
Expert Picks

Bruce Marshall

Bruce's unique and colorful brand of football and basketball analysis, as well as informed commentary on the national and international sports scene, has made him an in-demand guest for many years on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country. Bruce's vast array of editorial work has also been featured in VegasInsider, along with the Las Vegas Review-Journal and New York Post. Bruce, who is also in the midst of several book projects, combines all of his work while splitting time between Celebration, Florida and Henderson, Nevada. More from Bruce Marshall